Slimmed rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella

ABSTRACT

A slimmed rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella includes: a flat rib pivotally connected with an inner rib and respectively pivotally secured to an upper notch of an umbrella shaft and a runner slidably held on the umbrella shaft, a middle rib having an U-shaped groove and pivotally connected to the flat rib, and a tail rib pivotally securable to the middle rib, with the inner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein; whereby upon closing of the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shaped grooves respectively formed in the middle rib and in the inner rib to greatly minimize the volume of the rib assembly when folded to thereby provide a slim umbrella for convenient storage and handling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,822 (prior art) issued to the same inventors of thisapplication disclosed an umbrella with quadruple folds, which howeverhas the following drawbacks:

Each of the stretcher rib (22) and middle rib (24) is formed to have across section of U shape. Upon closing of the umbrella, it is expectedto fold the ribs of the rib assembly (2) to be a slim folded structurein order for convenient storage or handling.

The U-shaped stretcher rib (22) will receive the inner connecting rib(25) into a longitudinal groove as recessed in the stretcher rib (22)when folding the rib assembly (2) when closing the umbrella. In order toreceive the inner connecting rib (25) into the U-shaped groove of thestretcher rib (22), the U-shaped groove of the rib (22) should be madeto have an enough width for “storing” the rib (25) within the stretcherrib (22) when folding the umbrella, thereby increasing the totalthickness of the stretcher rib (22). Therefore, the middle rib (24) cannot receive the “thick” stretcher rib (22) into an U-shaped grooveformed in the middle rib (24) when closing the umbrella.

So, the prior art can not be so slim when closing and folding theumbrella. The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior artand invented the present slimmed rib assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a slimmed rib assemblyfor multiple-fold umbrella including: a flat rib pivotally connectedwith an inner rib and respectively pivotally secured to an upper notchof an umbrella shaft and a runner slidably held on the umbrella shaft, amiddle rib having an U-shaped groove and pivotally connected to the flatrib, and a tail rib pivotally securable to the middle rib, with theinner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein; whereby uponclosing of the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shapedgrooves respectively formed in the middle rib and in the inner rib togreatly minimize the volume of the rib assembly when folded to therebyprovide a slim umbrella for convenient storage and handling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing the rib assembly of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing a folded rib assembly of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is cross sectional drawing of the present invention as viewedfrom Line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1˜3, the present invention comprises a rib assembly 2pivotally secured to a central shaft 1 and a runner (or lower runner) 23slidably held on the central shaft 1 of a multiple-fold umbrella.

The number of folds of the present invention are not limited. However,for illustration purpose, a quadruple rib assembly is provided in thisspecification with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in the drawing figures accompanied herewith, the rib assembly 2of the present invention comprises at least an inner rib or top rib 21pivotally secured to an upper notch 15 formed on a top of central shaft1, a flat rib or stretcher rib 22 pivotally connected to the inner rib(or top rib) 21 and pivotally secured to a runner or lower runner 23slidably held on the central shaft 1, a middle rib 24 pivotally securedto the flat rib or stretcher rib 22 and also pivotally connectable tothe inner rib or top rib 21, and a tail or outer rib 26 pivotallysecurable to the middle rib 24.

However, the rib assembly 2 may also be inverted to modify theconfiguration or structure for arranging the ribs of the rib assembly 2.For instance, the flat rib 22 may also be changed as a “top rib”pivotally secured to the upper notch 15, while the inner rib 21 may thenbe changed to be a “stretcher rib” pivotally secured to the runner andpivotally connected to the “top rib”.

As illustrated, the middle rib 24 is also pivotally secured to the inner(or top) rib 21 through an inner connecting rib 25 which is formed as afine rod or wire having a cross section of circular shape or othersuitable shapes.

The tail rib 26 is pivotally secured to the middle rib 24 respectivelythrough an outer connecting rib 28 and an outer spring rib 27juxtapositioned to the outer connecting rib 28.

An inner spring rib 27 a is formed as a rod or wire and isjuxtapositionally coupled to the middle rib 24 as limited by a limitingmeans 241 secured on the middle rib 24. Such an inner spring rib 27 a ispivotally connected between the flat rib (or stretcher rib) 22 and ajoint member 24 a adjacent to or formed at an outer end portion of themiddle rib 24. The joint member 24 a is secured with an inner endportion 281 of the outer connecting rib 28 and is pivotally connected toan outermost end of the middle rib 24.

The middle rib 24 is preferably formed with a longitudinal U-shapedgroove 240 recessed in the rib 24, having the limiting means 241 formedin a middle portion of the middle rib 24 for slidably coupling the innerspring rib 27 a with the middle rib 24.

The limiting means 241 may be a pin or a ring fixed, fastened or formedon the middle rib 24.

Other structures or configurations of the middle rib 24 may be furthermodified in accordance with the present invention. The materials orcross sectional shapes for making the ribs of the rib assembly 2 of thepresent invention are not limited.

The flat rib (or stretcher rib) 22 is formed as a longitudinal flatplate, a slim plate or rod, and may be made of steel, aluminum alloy orother suitable materials.

The flat rib 22 has its inner end portion 221 pivotally secured to therunner (or lower runner) 23 slidably held on the central shaft 1, amiddle portion 222 of the flat rib 22 pivotally secured to the inner (ortop) rib 21, an outermost end portion 223 of the rib 22 pivotallysecured to the middle rib 24, an outer portion 224 next to the outermostend portion 223 pivotally secured with the inner spring rib 27 a, and arecess portion (or bending portion) 225 concaved outwardly adapted to beengaged with a pin 213 formed on an outer portion of the inner (or top)rib 21, namely, the recess portion 225 being provided for receiving thepin 213 of the inner rib 21 into the recess portion 225 when closing theumbrella and folding the rib assembly 2 in order to slim the ribassembly when folded.

The inner rib or top rib 21 is formed with an U-shaped groove 210recessed in the rib 21, having an inner end portion 211 of the rib 21pivotally secured to the upper notch 15 on a top of the central shaft 1,a pair of bifurcated arm members 214 bifurcated at an outer portion ofthe inner rib 21 each arm member 214 outwardly biased from the inner rib21 with an acute angle A; whereby upon folding of the rib assembly 2when closing the umbrella, the major rib portion 21 m of the inner rib21 will allow its U-shaped groove 210 to receive the inner connectingrib 25 and an upper rib portion of the flat rib 22 into the U-shapedgroove 210 in the inner rib 21.

Simultaneously, the flat rib 22 will allow its outer portion to bereceived into the U-shaped groove 240 of the middle groove 24 especiallyas shown in FIG. 3. By the way, the flat rib 22 will be respectivelyreceived into the inner rib 21 and the middle rib 24 when folding therib assembly 2 and closing the umbrella for slimming the rib assembly asfolded.

The recess portion 225 may also receive the pin 213 so as to allow theinner rib 21 to well receive the flat rib 22 for helping slimming of thefolded rib assembly when closing the umbrella.

Accordingly, the present invention may provide a multiple-fold umbrellawhich will be folded to be a very slim configuration to be more slim andcompact than the prior art, thereby causing a more convenient handlingand storage.

Essentially, the pair of bifurcated arm members 214 are biased outwardlyto be deviated from the main rib portion 21 m of the inner rib 21 withan acute angle A to allow the main rib portion 21 m to be generallyaligned with (or juxtapositionally close to) the flat rib 22 whenfolding the rib assembly 2 when closing the umbrella to thereby form aslim folded rib assembly and folded umbrella for convenient handling andstorage.

The flat rib 22 is a longitudinal flat blade or plate member with thinthickness to be respectively received into opposite U-shaped grooves210, 240 as recessed in the inner rib 21 and in the middle rib 24 (FIG.3) to greatly reduce their folding volume of the “inside” ribs (ribs 21,25, 22, 24) adjacent to the central shaft 1. Accordingly, the “inside”ribs (21, 25, 22, 24) are slimmed, and the “outside” ribs (27, 28, 26)at an outer portion of the rib assembly 2 are also slim since each“outside” rib (27, 28, 26) is formed as a slim rib or fine rod, therebyallowing the total ribs of the rib assembly 2 to be folded as a slimcompact folding structure to be much improved over the prior arts.

If the middle rib 24 is not formed with such a longitudinal U-shapedgroove 240 therein, the flat rib 22, when folding the rib assembly 2,may still approximate the middle rib 24 as much as possible to form avery slim folded rib assembly when closing the umbrella.

As shown in FIG. 4, another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is disclosed, which is a modification of the aforementionedexample and is now formed as an automatic umbrella, which may beautomatically opened as urged by the spring 10 retained on the shaft 1.

On a lower portion (or lower recess portion) 226 of the flat rib 22, aclad member 227 is fastened thereon and is formed with a hook hole 228for securing an upper hook portion 292 of a lower auxiliary rib 29 ofwhich a lower hook portion 291 is pivotally secured to a lowest runner23 a slidably held on the central shaft 1 of an automatic umbrella. Thelowest runner 23 a is positioned under the lower runner (or runner) 23for forming the automatic umbrella which is a conventional art and willnot be described in detail in this application.

The clad member 227 may also be eliminated and the hook hole (or pivothole) may be directly formed in the lower portion of the flat rib 22,not limited in the present invention. The lower auxiliary rib 29 may beformed as a fine rod or a wire to help form a slim rib assembly for thepresent invention.

The present invention may be modified without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

1. A slimmed rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella comprising: an inner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein; a flat rib formed as a longitudinal flat slim plate pivotally connected with said inner rib to be respectively pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of a central shaft and a runner slidably held on said central shaft; a middle rib pivotally secured to the flat rib; and a tail rib pivotally securable to said middle rib; whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shaped groove in the inner rib and the flat rib will be folded to approximate the middle rib to thereby form a slim folded rib assembly when closing the umbrella.
 2. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flat rib is a stretcher rib pivotally secured to said runner; and said inner rib is a top rib pivotally secured to the upper notch on said central shaft.
 3. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein said inner rib includes a pair of bifurcated arm members biased outwardly from a main rib portion of said inner rib at an acute angle, whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the main rib portion of the inner rib will be generally aligned with or juxtapositionally close to said flat rib to form a slim folded rib assembly.
 4. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flat rib includes a recess portion concaved outwardly to engage with a pin formed on an outer portion of said inner rib and adapted for pivotally connecting an inner connecting rib pivotally secured with said middle rib, and said pin operatively received into the recess portion of the flat rib for forming a slim rib assembly when folded.
 5. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flat rib is operatively partially received into a longitudinal U-shaped groove recessed in said middle rib when folding the rib assembly when closing the umbrella.
 6. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein said middle rib is slidably coupled with an inner spring rib as limited by a limiting means secured on said middle rib.
 7. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tail rib is respectively pivotally secured to said middle rib by an outer connecting rib and an outer spring rib juxtapositioned to said outer connecting rib.
 8. A slimmed rib assembly comprising: an inner rib having an U-shaped groove recessed therein; a flat rib formed as a longitudinal flat slim plate pivotally connected with said inner rib to be respectively pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of a central shaft and a lower runner slidably hold on said central shaft; a middle rib pivotally secured to said flat rib; a tail rib pivotally secured to said middle rib; and a lower auxiliary rib pivotally secured to a lower portion of said flat rib and pivotally secured to a lowest runner positioned under said lower runner and slidably held on said central shaft for forming a multiple-fold automatic umbrella; whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the flat rib will be received into the U-shaped groove in said inner rib and will be folded to approximate the middle rib to form a slim folded rib assembly when closing the umbrella.
 9. A rib assembly according to claim 8, wherein said flat rib is formed with a hole in the lower portion of said flat rib adapted for pivotally securing an outer portion of the lower auxiliary rib in said hole in said flat rib.
 10. A rib assembly according to claim 8, wherein said flat rib further includes a clad member fastened on said flat rib, having a hook hole formed in said clad member for pivotally connecting an outer hook portion of said lower auxiliary rib.
 11. A rib assembly according to claim 10, wherein said flat rib is formed with a lower recess portion therein, and said clad member fastened to said lower recess portion of said flat rib.
 12. A rib assembly according to claim 8, wherein said inner rib includes a pair of bifurcated arm members biased outwardly from a main rib portion of said inner rib at an acute angle, whereby upon folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the main rib portion of the inner rib will be generally aligned with said flat rib to form a slim folded rib assembly.
 13. A rib assembly according to claim 8, wherein said flat rib includes an upper recess portion concaved outwardly in an upper portion of said flat rib to engage with a pin formed on an outer portion of said inner rib and adapted for pivotally connecting an inner connecting rib pivotally secured with said middle rib and said pin operatively received into the upper recess portion of the flat rib for forming a slim rib assembly when folded. 